To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather research through a focused
program of investment on affordable and attainable advances in
observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial
improvement in weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather
events, to expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather
data, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015.

2.

Public safety priority

In accordance with NOAA’s critical mission to provide science, service, and stewardship, the Under Secretary shall prioritize weather research, across all weather programs, to improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.

3.

Weather research and forecasting innovation

(a)

Program

The Assistant Administrator for OAR shall conduct a program to develop improved understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and their impacts, placing priority on developing more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and fore-casts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.

(b)

Program elements

The program described in subsection (a) shall focus on the following activities:

(1)

Improving the fundamental understanding of weather consistent with section 2, including the boundary layer and other atmospheric processes affecting high impact weather events.

(2)

Improving the understanding of how the public receives, interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.

(3)

Research and development, and transfer of knowledge, technologies, and applications to the NWS and other appropriate agencies and entities, including the American weather industry and academic partners, related to—

(A)

advanced radar, radar networking technologies, and other ground-based technologies, including those emphasizing rapid, fine-scale sensing of the boundary layer and lower troposphere, and the use of innovative, dual-polarization, phased array technologies;

(B)

aerial weather observing systems;

(C)

high performance computing and information technology and wireless communication networks;

(D)

advanced numerical weather prediction systems and forecasting tools and techniques that improve the forecasting of timing, track, intensity, and severity of high impact weather, including through—

(i)

the development of more effective mesoscale models;

(ii)

more effective use of existing, and the development of new, regional and national cloud-resolving models;

(iii)

enhanced global weather models; and

(iv)

integrated assessment models;

(E)

quantitative assessment tools for measuring the impact and value of data and observing systems, including OSSEs (as described in section 8), OSEs, and AOAs;

(F)

atmospheric chemistry and interactions essential to accurately characterizing atmospheric composition and predicting meteorological processes, including cloud microphysical, precipitation, and atmospheric electrification processes, to more effectively understand their role in severe weather; and

A technology transfer initiative, carried out jointly and in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, and in cooperation with the American weather industry and academic partners, to ensure continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological advances into NWS operations and to establish a process to sunset outdated and expensive operational methods and tools to enable cost-effective transfer of new methods and tools into operations.

(c)

Extramural research

(1)

In general

In carrying out the program under this section, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall collaborate with and support the non-Federal weather research community, which includes institutions of higher education, private entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by making funds available through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.

(2)

Sense of congress

It is the sense of Congress that not less than 30 percent of the funds for weather research and development at OAR should be made available for the purpose described in paragraph (1).

(d)

Report

The Under Secretary shall transmit to Congress annually, concurrently with NOAA’s budget request, a description of current and planned activities under this section.

4.

Tornado warning improvement and extension program

(a)

In general

The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the American weather industry and academic partners, shall establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program.

(b)

Goal

The goal of such program shall be to reduce the loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond one hour in advance.

(c)

Program plan

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall develop a program plan that details the specific research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal.

(d)

Budget for plan

Following completion of the plan, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget corresponding to the activities identified in the plan.

5.

Hurricane warning improvement program

(a)

In general

The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the American weather industry and academic partners, shall establish a hurricane warning improvement program.

(b)

Goal

The goal of such program shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy.

(c)

Program plan

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall develop a program plan that details the specific research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal.

(d)

Budget for plan

Following completion of the plan, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget corresponding to the activities identified in the plan.

6.

Weather research and development planning

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrators for NWS and NESDIS, shall issue a research and development and research to operations plan to restore and maintain United States leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that—

(1)

describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, objectives, and progress of NOAA in carrying out the program conducted under section 3;

(2)

identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather mission of NWS to achieve a weather-ready Nation;

(3)

describes how the program will collaborate with stakeholders, including the American weather industry and academic partners; and

(4)

identifies, through consultation with the National Science Foundation, American weather industry, and academic partners, research necessary to enhance the integration of social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning processes, including to improve the communication of threat information necessary to enable improved severe weather planning and decisionmaking on the part of individuals and communities.

7.

Observing system planning

The Under Secretary shall—

(1)

develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum extent practicable;

(2)

undertake, using OSSEs, OSEs, AOAs, and other appropriate assessment tools, ongoing systematic evaluations of the combination of observing systems, data, and information needed to meet the requirements listed under paragraph (1), assessing various options to maximize observational capabilities and their cost-effectiveness;

(3)

identify current and potential future data gaps in observing capabilities related to the requirements listed under paragraph (1); and

(4)

determine a range of options to address gaps identified under paragraph (3).

8.

Observing system simulation experiments

(a)

In general

In support of the requirements of section 7, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall undertake OSSEs to quantitatively assess the relative value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. Technical and scientific OSSE evaluations—

(1)

may include assessments of the impact of observing capabilities on—

(A)

global weather prediction;

(B)

hurricane track and intensity forecasting;

(C)

tornado warning lead times and accuracy;

(D)

prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm outbreaks; and

(E)

prediction of storms that have the potential to cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 hours to 1 week; and

(2)

shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate entities within NOAA, other Federal agencies, the American weather industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical and scientific merit of OSSE results.

(b)

Requirements

OSSEs shall quantitatively—

(1)

determine the potential impact of proposed space-based, suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and forecasts, including potential impacts on extreme weather events across all parts of the Nation;

(2)

evaluate and compare observing system design options; and

(3)

assess the relative capabilities and costs of various observing systems and combinations of observing systems in providing data necessary to protect life and property.

(c)

Implementation

OSSEs—

(1)

shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major Government-owned or Government-leased operational observing systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and

(2)

shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000.

(d)

Priority OSSEs

(1)

Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation

Not later than December 31, 2015, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation.

(2)

Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation

Not later than December 31, 2016, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation.

(e)

Results

Upon completion of all OSSEs, results shall be publicly released and accompanied by an assessment of related private and public sector weather data sourcing options, including their availability, affordability, and cost effectiveness. Such assessments shall be developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United States Code.

9.

Computing resources prioritization report

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the NOAA Chief Information Officer, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall produce and make publicly available a report that explains how NOAA intends to—

(1)

continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and cost effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;

(2)

ensure a balance between the research to operations requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global models as well as highly reliable operational models;

(3)

take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the American weather industry, and partners in academic and government research; and

(4)

use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction.

10.

Commercial weather data

(a)

Amendment

Section 60161 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “This prohibition shall not extend to—

(1)

the purchase of weather data through contracts with commercial providers; or

(2)

the placement of weather satellite instruments on cohosted government or private payloads.

.

(b)

Strategy

(1)

In general

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Under Secretary, shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a strategy to enable the procurement of quality commercial weather data. The strategy shall assess the range of commercial opportunities, including public-private partnerships, for obtaining surface-based, aviation-based, and space-based weather observations. The strategy shall include the expected cost effectiveness of these opportunities as well as provide a plan for procuring data, including an expected implementation timeline, from these nongovernmental sources, as appropriate.

(2)

Requirements

The strategy shall include—

(A)

an analysis of financial or other benefits to, and risks associated with, acquiring commercial weather data or services, including through multiyear acquisition approaches;

(B)

an identification of methods to address planning, programming, budgeting, and execution challenges to such approaches, including—

(i)

how standards will be set to ensure that data is reliable and effective;

(ii)

how data may be acquired through commercial experimental or innovative techniques and then evaluated for integration into operational use;

(iii)

how to guarantee public access to all forecast-critical data to ensure that the American weather industry and the public continue to have access to information critical to their work; and

(iv)

in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United States Code, methods to address potential termination liability or cancellation costs associated with weather data or service contracts; and

(C)

an identification of any changes needed in the requirements development and approval processes of the Department of Commerce to facilitate effective and efficient implementation of such strategy.

(3)

Authority for agreements

The Assistant Administrator for NESDIS may enter into multiyear agreements necessary to carry out the strategy developed under this subsection.

(c)

Pilot program

(1)

Criteria

Not later than December 31, 2015, NOAA shall publish data standards and specifications for space-based commercial weather data.

(2)

Pilot contract

(A)

Contract

Not later than October 1, 2016, NOAA shall, through an open competition, enter into at least one pilot contract with a private sector entity capable of providing data that meet the standards and specifications set by NOAA to provide commercial weather data in a manner that allows NOAA to calibrate and evaluate the data.

(B)

Assessment of data viability

Not later than October 1, 2019, NOAA shall transmit to Congress the results of a determination of the extent to which data provided under the contract entered into under subparagraph (A) meet the criteria published under paragraph (1).

There are authorized to be appropriated out of funds made available for procurement, acquisition, and construction at NESDIS, $9,000,000 for carrying out this subsection.

11.

Environmental Information Services Working Group

(a)

Establishment

The NOAA Science Advisory Board shall continue to maintain a standing working group named the Environmental Information Services Working Group (in this section referred to as the Working Group) to—

(1)

provide advice for prioritizing weather research initiatives at NOAA to produce real improvement in weather forecasting;

(2)

provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or techniques that can be found in private industry or the research community that could be incorporated into forecasting at NWS to improve forecasting skill;

(3)

identify opportunities to improve communications between weather forecasters, emergency management personnel, and the public; and to improve communications and partnerships among NOAA and the private and academic sectors; and

(4)

address such other matters as the Science Advisory Board requests of the Working Group.

(b)

Composition

(1)

In General

The Working Group shall be composed of leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of science and engineering including atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, meteorology, hydrology, social science, risk communications, electrical engineering, and computer sciences. In carrying out this section, the Working Group may organize into subpanels.

(2)

Number

The Working Group shall be composed of no fewer than 15 members. Nominees for the Working Group may be forwarded by the Working Group for approval by the Science Advisory Board. Members of the Working Group may choose a chair (or co-chairs) from among their number with approval by the Science Advisory Board.

(c)

Annual report

The Working Group shall transmit annually to the Science Advisory Board for submission to the Under Secretary a report on progress made by NOAA in adopting the Working Group’s recommendations. The Science Advisory Board shall transmit this report to the Under Secretary. Within 30 days of receipt of such report, the Under Secretary shall transmit it to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

12.

Interagency weather research and innovation coordination

(a)

Establishment

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an Inter-agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities across the Federal Government. The Interagency Committee shall—

(1)

include participation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, NOAA and its constituent elements, the National Science Foundation, and such other agencies involved in weather forecasting research as the President determines are appropriate;

(2)

identify and prioritize top forecast needs and coordinate those needs against budget requests and program initiatives across participating offices and agencies; and

The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology shall serve as a co-chair of this panel.

(c)

Further coordination

The Director shall take such other steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with those of the American weather industry, State governments, emergency managers, and academic researchers.

13.

OAR and NWS exchange program

(a)

In general

The Assistant Administrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a program to detail OAR personnel to the NWS and NWS personnel to OAR.

(b)

Goal

The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction between OAR’s world-class scientists and NWS’s operational staff.

(c)

Elements

The program shall allow up to 10 OAR staff and NWS staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall be jointly selected by the Assistant Administrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS.

(d)

Report

The Under Secretary shall report annually to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on participation in such program and shall highlight any innovations that come from this interaction.

14.

Visiting fellows at NWS

(a)

In general

The Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

(b)

Goal

This program shall be designed to provide direct interaction between forecasters and talented academic and private sector researchers in an effort to bring innovation to forecasting tools and techniques available to the NWS.

(c)

Selection and appointment

Such fellows shall be competitively selected and appointed for a term not to exceed 1 year.

15.

NOAA weather radio all hazards Mark Trail award program

(a)

Program

The Assistant Administrator for NWS is authorized to establish the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Mark Trail Award Program. This award program shall provide annual awards to honor individuals or organizations that use or provide NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters to save lives and protect property. Individuals or organizations that utilize other early warning tools or applications also qualify for this award.

(b)

Goal

This award program draws attention to the life-saving work of the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards program, as well as emerging tools and applications, that provide real-time warning to individuals and communities of severe weather or other hazardous conditions.

(c)

Program elements

(1)

Nominations

Nominations for this award shall be made annually by the Weather Field Offices to the Assistant Administrator for NWS. Broadcast meteorologists, weather radio manufacturers and weather warning tool and application developers, emergency managers and public safety officials may nominate individuals and/or organizations to their local Weather Field Offices, but the final list of award nominees must come from the Weather Field Offices.

(2)

Selection of awardees

Annually, the Assistant Administrator for NWS shall choose winners of this award whose timely actions, based on NOAA weather radio all hazards receivers or transmitters or other early warning tools and applications, saved lives and/or property or demonstrated public service in support of weather or all hazard warnings.

(3)

Award ceremony

The Assistant Administrator for NWS shall establish a means of making these awards to provide maximum public awareness of the important Weather Radio All Hazards program, and such other warning tools and applications as are represented in the awards.

16.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

AOA

The term AOA means an Analysis of Alternatives.

(2)

NESDIS

The term NESDIS means the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

(3)

NOAA

The term NOAA means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(4)

NWS

The term NWS means the National Weather Service.

(5)

OAR

The term OAR means the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

(6)

OSE

The term OSE means an Observing System Experiment.

(7)

OSSE

The term OSSE means an Observing System Simulation Experiment.

(8)

Under secretary

The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

17.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

Fiscal year 2015

There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2015—

(1)

$90,800,000 to OAR to carry out this Act, of which—

(A)

$70,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; and

(B)

$20,800,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and

(2)

out of funds made available for research and development at NOAA, an additional amount of $16,000,000 for OAR to carry out the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 3(b)(4).

(b)

Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

For each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017, there are authorized to be appropriated in OAR—

(1)

$100,000,000 to carry out this Act, of which—

(A)

$80,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; and

(B)

$20,000,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and

(2)

an additional amount of $20,000,000 for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 3(b)(4).

(c)

Limitation

No additional funds are authorized to carry out this Act, and the amendments made by this Act.